Intended for healthcare professionals

News

Iran plans to ban vasectomies and female sterilisation to boost population

BMJ 2014; 349 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g5157 (Published 13 August 2014) Cite this as: BMJ 2014;349:g5157
  1. Ingrid Torjesen
  1. 1London

Vasectomies and female sterilisation are to be banned in Iran after the country’s parliament passed a bill this week aimed at boosting the country’s birth rate, the Islamic Republic News Agency has reported.1 The bill will also ban the advertising of birth control.

Under the bill, which was passed by 143 of 231 members present,2 doctors who perform permanent birth control surgeries, such as vasectomies or tubal ligation, could face fines and prison sentences. Members of the media will also be liable for prosecution if they publicise birth control or other family planning measures.

The rate of contraceptive surgeries in Iran is around four times the global average, said the Iran Daily, an English language newspaper based in Tehran. Around 100 000 Iranian men had vasectomies and …

View Full Text

Log in

Log in through your institution

Subscribe

* For online subscription